Pandigital
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Tablet maker Pandigital no longer offering warranty replacements, reminds us it's now out of business
To be completely fair, Pandigital officially called it quits back in July of this year, when it handed the remaining of its assets to a liquidator in order to comply with the don't-call-it-a-bankruptcy process. Now, however, the creator of that 7-inch Novel slate has been contacting former customers -- that are experiencing tablet woes -- to let them know it will no longer be able to offer such customer service, noting that "due to this liquidation process any further requests for warranty replacements cannot be honored." Given its earlier filing with the Credit Management Association, the notice doesn't exactly strike us a surprise, but it does tell us not to expect the Supernova maker to splash a comeback any time soon. You'll find the original email sent to troubled customers right after the break. Due to this liquidation process any further requests for warranty replacements cannot be honored. Please be advised that Pandigital, Inc (the 'Company'), executed a General Assignment for the benefit of its creditors in favor of Credit Management Association on July 13, 2012 (the 'General Assignment'). A general assignment is a common law means of concluding the affairs of an insolvent debtor as an alternative to the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process. Pandigital is currently in the process of liquidation by the Assignee. You are receiving this email as you have recently been shipped a warranty replacement for a Pandigital product.
Pandigital Supernova available mid-October for $230, is an eReader in Android tablet disguise
Pandigital hasn't made much of an effort to swathe its Supernova tab in mystery. When the 8-inch LCD slate swept through the FCC earlier this summer, we were privy not only to images of the device and its internals, but also to the apps that'd be pre-loaded on purchase -- GetJar and Barnes & Noble's Nook app amongst others. So, what can you expect for $230 when it lands this month? Well, the company's forsaken Honeycomb for the soon-to-be outclassed Gingerbread OS, tossed in a single-core 1GHz A8 processor, 4GB of storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD slot), WiFi and Bluetooth. It's a cheap, me too Android tablet entry, for sure. And with the recent outing of a certain budget-priced, ecosystem-friendly tab, we might suggest you hold off for the higher-specced goods. Official PR after the break.
Pandigital unveils Nova, Planet and Star Android tablets, 'flagship' device coming next month
It's shaping up to be a busy month for Pandigital. Two days after we spotted the Nova at Best Buy, the astronomically-inclined company has decided to officially unveil the Android tablet alongside the Planet and Star, with a fourth "flagship" device slated for release in September. Each of the three slates is powered by an A9 Cortex processor, and boasts a seven-inch touchscreen display (800x600 resolution on the Planet and Nova and 800x480 on the Star, pictured above). As far as storage goes, both the Planet and the Star offer 2GB of onboard memory, with the Nova packing 4GB, and all three offer WiFi and HDMI connectivity. The slabs also come preloaded with Barnes & Noble's eBookstore app and provide access to GetJar's app download store, rather than the Android Market. Honeycomb enthusiasts, however, should probably look elsewhere, as both the Planet and the Star run Android 2.2 Froyo, while the Nova ships with Gingerbread. But considering their prices, that shortcoming may be easy to overlook. The Planet, available now, will run you $189, as will the Nova, scheduled to ship later this week (though, again, you can also find it on Best Buy, for $170). The Star, meanwhile, will hit stores in mid-August, for a paltry $159. Rocket past the break for some photos of the Nova and Planet, along with more details, in the full press release.
Pandigital's Nova Android tablet hits Best Buy, explodes for $170
Pandigital has added a new star to its growing galaxy of e-readers, with the Nova Digital Reader -- a seven-inch, Android 2.3-powered slate that looks awfully similar to that eight-inch Super Nova we recently spotted at the FCC. The tablet, which just popped up at Best Buy, is powered by an 800MHz processor, offers 4GB of internal storage, and features an ActiveTouch display with 800x600 resolution. Much like its forerunners, the Novel and the Planet, the Nova also connects directly to the Barnes and Noble bookstore, and sports a pair of front- and rear-facing cameras. Aside from that, you'll find the usual 802.11 b/g/n wireless capabilities, a built-in microSD card slot, and a micro HDMI port, all packed within a frame that's half-an-inch thick. Persuaded? Grab your 'scope and zoom in on the source link to purchase. [Thanks, Charlie]
Pandigital's SuperNova Android tablet gets its FCC on, leaves little to the imagination
Typically, when a new gadget makes its way through the FCC, we have to do a fair amount of digging to get to the juicy details, put Pandigital's latest 8-inch tablet / e-reader, the SuperNova, isn't holding anything back. This Android 2.3-powered slate follows in the footsteps of its 9-inch predecessor, the Novel, acting more as a glorified e-reader than a real-deal tablet. Like the Novel, it comes with B&N's Nook app pre-installed and lacks access to the Android Market -- apps can be downloaded via SlideMe. What's more, it's got front (0.3 megapixel) and back-facing (3 megapixel) cameras, 4GB of internal storage, HDMI and mini-USB connectivity, support for 32GB micro-SD, and an 8-inch capacitive touch screen. Just about the only things missing from this FCC filing are price and availability, but we have a feeling the pair isn't far behind. If SAR reports and tablet entrails are your thing, you can peek even more SuperNova details at the source link below.
Pandigital's 7-inch Planet e-reader hits the FCC with Android, virus protection
Pandigital's contributions to the e-reader market may have been largely forgettable thus far, but that hasn't stopped the company from churning out new models and hoping something sticks. The latest is the Planet, a 7-inch, Android-based reader that just passed muster with the FCC. According to the filing, it'll connect to Barnes & Noble's e-book store and come bundled with various apps, including Facebook, QuickSuite Viewer, and -- surprise! -- virus protection. And though it'll run some unspecified version of Android, you'll have to download apps through the third-party store SlideMe, since the e-reader predictably won't have Market access. Rounding out the spec list are a WiFi radio, HDMI output, and front- and rear-facing cameras. No word on pricing or availability, but let's just hope it's less buggy than some other readers Pandigital has made.
IDC: 18 million tablets, 12 million e-readers shipped in 2010
We've already seen Apple boast that it's sold 15 million iPads in 2010 and commanded more than a 90 percent market share, but IDC has now come in and provided a broader picture of the tablet market as a whole -- and e-readers, too. Not surprisingly, it too found that the tablet industry is basically all about Apple at the moment, although its market share did dip from a whopping 93 percent in the third quarter to 73 percent in Q4, which averages out to 83 percent for the year -- all told, there were 18 million tablets sold in 2010. Things are a bit more competitive in the e-reader market -- where there were 12 million devices sold -- although Amazon is still head and shoulders above everyone else with a 48 percent share. Interestingly, it's followed not by Barnes & Noble as you might expect but by Pandigital, which just eeked into the number two spot for Q4 (though B&N is slightly ahead for the full year). Hanvon came in fourth based largely on strong sales in China, and Sony rounded out the top five with sales of 800,000 units in 2010. Check out the press release after the break for some additional details
Pandigital 7- and 9-inch Android tablets hands-on
Pandigital isn't beating around the bush with the two tablets it's showing here at CES -- they run Android 2.1, they're not getting Froyo, and they're most certainly not getting Honeycomb. These slates come in 7 and 9-inch varieties, and the 9-inch Novel comes in both AT&T 3G and WiFi-only models. To rub salt in the wound, these guys don't have any Android Market support, and they won't be getting it any time soon (or ever, for that matter). On the bright side though, you get B&N's Nook app pre-installed on the Novel (get it?). Unfortunately, we're most upset that Pandigital hasn't seemed to change any of the things we disliked so much with the first version -- the screens aren't glamorous and the performance is still painfully sluggish. If you're looking for a cheap Android tablet, we'd probably suggest waiting for something with a little bit lot more flare. %Gallery-113073%
Pandigital's Multimedia Novel gets AT&T 3G, still cheap
Here are some facts we know about this subject: This is a tablet called the Multimedia Novel, built by Pandigital. It's very much like another Multimedia Novel tablet Pandigital sells at CVS for $214, except now it's $280 because there's a 3G radio inside. We really disliked the 7-inch version. It's on AT&T but it's contract free -- you pay as you go. The 9-inch screen is resistive, which sucks even if there's contract free AT&T on it. That's just our opinion, though. Android 2.0 is the OS. Barnes & Noble's Nookbook Store is pre-loaded. You can't access the Android Market by default. There's an unspecified 800MHz ARM11 processor running everything. It's probably slow. The 800 x 480 resolution will probably make your eyes bleed at this size. But hey, it's cheap. %Gallery-112444%
Pandigital's 9-inch Novel now on sale... as a QVC exclusive
Those wily shoppers at QVC have beaten the world once again in securing an exclusive on Pandigital's 9-inch Novel tablet. You'll recall that we weren't exactly overwhelmed with joy after handling the 7-inch Novel, and sadly this new slate looks like nothing more than a growth spurt, bringing as it does the same resistive touchscreen, B&N ebook store access, 2GB of integrated storage, and 802.11b/g WiFi highlights. Admittedly, QVC throws in a 4GB microSD card and prices it at an affordable $214, but we're always wary of Android devices that neglect to state which version of the OS they're running. Hit up the source link if you're more courageous -- or if you just want to watch the longest infomercial of your life.
Pandigital Novel PRD09TW e-reader hits the FCC
Pandigital may have not exactly hit a home run with its first Novel e-reader, but it looks like it might already be coming back for another try with a new model. That device recently hit the FCC with the model name PRD09TW, and it seems to be mostly identical in appearance to the current Pandigital Novel, with the notable exception of four buttons along the bottom. Unfortunately, there's no specs to be found, but it does appear to boast a 7-inch 9-inch screen (here's hoping for capacitive this time around), and the test reports do at least reveal the presence of WiFi. What's more, as the folks at Wireless Goodness have noted, a 6-inch E Ink-based reader from Pandigital has also hit the FCC alongside this new Novel, although it's not clear if it's actually a new model or just an early version of the company's Novel Personal reader (the only different is a slight change in button placement). In fact, the same could be said of the PRD09TW, but the current Novel did already hit the FCC back in May.
Pandigital takes a second shot at digital reading with the Novel Personal eReader
Second time's got to be the charm, eh Pandigital? No, we weren't exactly the biggest fans of the company's Android-running, LCD e-reader, but its new e-ink based Novel Personal eReader definitely follows a simpler approach. Aimed at those that wish to read in any and all environments (see Amazon's latest commercial for that real life example), the 9.1-ounce device has a 6-inch Sipex/AUO ePaper touch display, integrated WiFi, access to Barnes & Noble's eBookstore, an accelerometer and 2GB of onboard storage / a built-in card reader that accepts up to 32GB cards. Not too shabby in terms of raw specs, that's for sure, but its functionality better be damn impressive for its $200 MSRP -- considering, you know, that Barnes & Noble's own WiFi-equipped Nook starts at $149 these days. Of course, we fully expect that price to drop once it hits those familiar big-box retailers, but until you see it in that colorful weekend circular we leave you with the full press release and press shots below to look over. %Gallery-105243%
Pandigital Novel review
It's our guess that the Pandigital Novel has been turning quite a few heads at retailers across the US during the last few weeks. How could it not? It's got a full-color, 7-inch touchscreen, 2GB of on-board memory, runs a skinned version of Android and is priced around $180 (depending on where you're shopping). Oh, and it's got access to Barnes & Noble's e-book store. About one-third the price of the iPad, we sure can see the attraction, but after attempting to read an entire novel on it we can't help but wonder how it found its way past product development and into the stock rooms of Walgreens, Bed, Bath & Beyond and JCPenny, to name a few. Hit the break for our full review and to see just exactly we're talking about. %Gallery-99816%
Pandigital PhotoLink portable scanner review
If you're anything like us, you may find yourself in need of scanning in a few last-minute receipts for reimbursement. Or maybe your oldest youngster left his essay sitting on the kitchen table, and you need to shoot him / her over a PDF on the double. Or maybe you've just got way too many tax-related documents cluttering up your basement. Point is, just about anyone could find a reason or two to invest in a scanner, and Pandigital's making things a lot easier with the PhotoLink personal photo scanner / converter. The $149.99 device was launched last week, and we've been toying with it a few days here at Engadget HQ. If you've been on the fence about buying a portable scanner, join us after the break for a few impressions along with a riveting video of this thing... well, scanning. %Gallery-97761%
Hackers start hacking the Pandigital Novel e-reader
The Pandigital Novel e-reader may have had its share of problems since its launch just a month ago, but it's starting to look like a slightly more attractive option for those willing to hack the device. As detailed by Nate of The Digital Reader blog, the procedure for installing a new home screen and additional apps is fairly straight forward, and doesn't involve actually rooting the device (although others are working on doing that as well). Of course, it's not quite a seamless experience as an Android tablet (there's apparently some stability issues), but it doesn't look too shabby for a $179 device. Head on past the break for a video of the hack, and hit up the link below for the necessary details to do it yourself.
Pandigital Personal Photo Scanner/Converter cuts the cable, writes to memory cards
The act of scanning a photo generally entails something along the lines of placing the photo onto a device, loading some photo software, waiting while the scanner groans away, cropping the resulting image, and then shuffling the resulting bits off into a folder somewhere. Pandigital's latest, the Personal Photo Scanner/Converter, helps to cut down on that process -- a little bit, anyway. You can simply feed documents through it (up to 8.5 x 11 in size) and have them written straight to memory card (SD, Memory Stick, etc.) at 600dpi resolution, which could certainly speed up your workflow and let you run through reams of photos without lugging that dusty 'ol album to your computer. (You can still connect it via miniUSB and do it the old fashioned way, if you like.) The one thing we're not seeing in the specs is a battery, which would make this thing truly portable, but for $149.99 you can't have everything. It is, at least, available now. Update: We've updated the post to include a pic of the new model.
Pandigital Novel preview
Sure, Pandigital's Novel may be delayed until next month because of some firmware issues -- and we haven't heard the most positive things about the 7-inch LCD based e-reader / tablet -- but we had to check it out for ourselves. At $179.99 $149, the all-plastic reader isn't going to win any build quality awards (it's also rather heavy for what it is), but the Android 2.1-powered gadget does have a pretty attractive user interface. In use, however, the resistive screen had to be pressed quite firmly to make selections and the software was noticeably sluggish. Surprisingly, the device did play a standard definition video smoothly and it has an accelerometer -- which is more than the Archos 7 Home Tablet can brag. Barnes & Noble's eBookstore will be preloaded, and it also has a skinned Android browser of some sort. We've got a short hands-on video after the break, but you've got the picture here: the Novel isn't what we'd call novel, you just get what you pay for. %Gallery-96241%
Pandigital rolls out Novel firmware fix following recall
Pandigital's launch of its Novel e-reader quickly turned into something of a mess after it was forced to pull the device from retail partner Kohl's due to some major firmware issues, but it looks like the company has now gotten things sorted out (or so it hopes). It's just rolled out a firmware update for the device that apparently fixes the problems, and which should also pave the way for its return to retail (though it's still not available from Kohl's just yet). It remains to be seen if the update also fixes the many issues reported in an early review of the device, however, but we're going to go out on a limb and say it doesn't make it any lighter. As we'd heard before, you can also still return the device for a full refund if you're not satisfied with it, or you grab the firmware update at the link below and see if it makes things a bit more bearable. [Thanks, joelaf]
Kohl's pulls Pandigital Novel eReader for a firmware fix?
It seems Pandigital read a bit too far ahead in the story of its Novel eReader. The Digital Readers, which has been covering the device extensively, reports that Kohl's is currently going through something of a recall so that Pandigital can install an updated firmware. Customers can return it for a full refund -- and if the publication's review is to be believed, that might be the best course of action. In one of the first impressions pieces we've seen, TDR lambasts the Novel both as an e-reader and as a tablet. Apparently the hardware is overly heavy, the screen is laggy, WiFi is broken, and it doesn't charge over USB... but don't just take our word for it. See and hear it for yourself in the video critique after the break -- and if you're still jonesing, JCPenny continues to list it on sale. Read - Recall Read - Review Read - First impressions
Pandigital Novel goes on sale, hopes you'll take a look
It may not be the color e-reader that turns Amazon's Kindle and the B&N Nook into relics, but Pandigital's Novel is actually one of the more interesting me-toos to surface. Boasting a 7-inch LCD, 1GB of storage space (not to mention an SD / MMC card slot), integrated WiFi and access to the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, the Novel is now on sale in at least a couple of places. If we were you, though, we'd probably opt for that Kohl's link -- you know, unless you just enjoy paying $50 over the $199.99 MSRP. Update: Whoops! Looks like the Kohl's "sale" is off as well, with the price shooting up to $259.99. No deal.
